Bethlehem Drug Dealer Sentenced

A 19-year-old Bethlehem man who refused drug and alcohol treatment and tested positive for cocaine use in Northampton County Prison was sentenced yesterday to 23 months to 10 years in the facility.

John Cordero, who had lived at 423 Wyandotte St., pleaded guilty Jan. 11 to delivery of cocaine for an April 4 offense in his neighborhood, and on Oct. 13 pleaded guilty to delivery of heroin for a Dec. 1, 1993, offense in the same location.

Both transactions involved small amounts delivered to undercover drug agents.

Northampton County Senior Judge Richard D. Grifo imposed the sentence after obtaining a report from the prison about Cordero's conduct there since his Sept. 7 incarceration. The report said Cordero was adamant that he would not participate in prison drug and alcohol abuse treatment. He was placed in a tier with minimal privileges. On Dec. 1, his urine tested positive for cocaine, and he was placed in disciplinary lock-up for 30 days.